The International Hotel struggle and the Filipino community
August 4, 1977 will go down in infamy as the date the City and County of San Francisco executed the most ruthless persecution and violent destruction of human life unparalleled ever except for the 1934 General Strike. The main blow was directed at Manilatown and the Filipinos who lived on Kearny Street since the early 1900's.
Final evictions were carried out in 1977. For those elderly Filipinos and Chinese who fought and stood in defense of their home that night, it was a sad commentary of how inhumane their treatment and the disgrace of a city uncaring to handle the housing crisis and the homeless victims of this and other evictions. However, continued community organizing prevented the owner from building his planned development, even after the building was demolished in 1981. The hole in the ground served for years as a glaring reminder of the human costs and sacrifices to defend affordable housing for minorities and the poor.
In 1994 the owner agreed to sell the property to the Catholic diocese, leading to the construction of a new I-Hotel of low-cost senior housing with a Filipino community center which opened in 2005.
Documents
I Hotel
Date: 2/26/1977Call Number: LA 008Format: CassetteCollection: The International Hotel struggle and the Filipino community
Live coverage of the takeover of the I-Hotel, including documentation of police violence, interviews with tenants and Mayor Moscone, gathering at St. Mary’s Square. Includes: Reporter from Third World Bureau in Oakland live at the scene of the I-Hotel; highlights of action from 11PM-4:30AM and re-location to
St. Mary’s Square and the Mission. Interview with Mayor Moscone where he is confronted about things such as the contradictions in police tactics, temporary housing policies, the swearing in of Donna Solomon as SF Human Rights Commissioner
International Hotel Tenant’s Association
Call Number: KP 010Format: CassetteCollection: The International Hotel struggle and the Filipino community
recording of May 13 rally includes speakers from International Hotel Tenant’s Association (IHTA), United Farm Workers (UFW), and AIM.
International Hotel Tenant’s Association
Call Number: KP 011Format: CassetteCollection: The International Hotel struggle and the Filipino community
continued coverage of May 13 rally for International Hotel Tenant’s Association, with music from Los Moroscos (see also KP 010)
Fall of the I-Hotel (CC)
Call Number: IH 034Format: DVDCollection: The International Hotel struggle and the Filipino community
Documents the story of a broad-based movement of senior citizens, churches, labor groups, and community activists to preserve the I-Hotel as low-cost housing for the elderly and as [a Filipino American or] Asian American community center. It is a blend of cultural history and personal vignettes which dramatically portrays the conflicts between individuals, corporations; and those who must enforce the law. Originally released in 1983, this film was revised in 1993 and released in 2005. DVD format.
International Hotel KPFA Broadcast (EH)
Call Number: IH 001Format: CassetteProducers: Norman Jayo with Third World News ProductionCollection: The International Hotel struggle and the Filipino community
April 1977 pre-eviction broadcast of the International Hotel struggle (KPFA). Program contains narration, music, interviews and recorded speeches with detailed chronological account of the events leading to the eviction. Discusses the involvement of the Milton Meyer Company, Walter Shorenstein, Sheriff Richard Hongisto, Mayor George Moscone, The Four Seas Investment Corporation, and Judge Ira Brown. Audio documentation of tenants Emil de Guzman, Nita Rader, Wahat Tampao, Felix Ayson, and city officials Moscone and Hongisto. Topics of the affordable housing struggle are explained, such as the "Buy-Back" plan that was proposed to the tenants, the Power of Eminent Domain to prevent eviction, Hongisto's contempt of court, and the progressive community joining to created a human barricade around the building. Program ends asking listeners to support the struggle of the I-Hotel tenants.
Discusses the affordable housing struggle, the "Buy-Back" plan that was proposed to the tenants, how the power of Eminent Domain was used for the first time to try and prevent an eviction, Hongisto's contempt of court, and how the greater progressive community joined by the thousands to support the tenants by creating human chains around the building. Program ends asking listeners to support the struggle of the I-Hotel tenants.
Art Sato Jazz International Hotel Announcement EH Week (EH)
Date: 8/2/1997Call Number: IH 003Format: CassetteProducers: UnknownCollection: The International Hotel struggle and the Filipino community
A recording of Estella Habal's radio announcement of events that commemorate the 20th anniversary celebration. As she commemorates the 1977 International Hotel eviction, Estella Habal provides historical background of the International Hotel eviction.
Who’s Who in Asia America: The I-Hotel Tenants (EH)
Date: 8/13/1978Call Number: IH 005Format: CassetteProducers: KFRCProgram: Who’s Who in Asia AmericaCollection: The International Hotel struggle and the Filipino community
Edited radio retrospective of the 1977 International Hotel Eviction in San Francisco. Three former tenants, Fred De la Cruz, Mary Lai, and Mr. Yip reflect on their eviction night experiences and speak of their continuing affordable housing struggle, now in its 10th year. Ends with a male, accompanied by music, reading a poem about the I-Hotel Eviction.
Manila Bay & Alfredo (EH)
Call Number: IH 006Format: CassetteCollection: The International Hotel struggle and the Filipino community
Unedited recordings of a musical performance and interview, possibly happening at separate times. Musicians perform a song about the first generation Filipino immigration experience. The song may be called, "Manila Bay." Followed by an interview with "Alfredo" a tenant of the International Hotel. He discusses how he came to live at the hotel in March 15, 1969 and is now protesting the eviction of the International Hotel residents. Alfredo is being interviewed by an unidentified female.
International Hotel Actuality (EH)
Date: 8/3/1977Call Number: IH 002Format: CassetteCollection: The International Hotel struggle and the Filipino community
On the night of the 1977 International Hotel eviction, a reporter following Sheriff Richard Hongisto made recordings documenting the breaking down of doors. As a sledgehammer is used to break doors down, the reporter comments on the sheriff's refusal to warn tenants to vacate their rooms. Field recording includes verbal exchanges between the sheriff, the reporter, and Estella Habal.
I-Hotel Commemoration [at] CHS-SF [cosponsored by Chinese Historical Society and Manilatown Heritage Foundation] (EH)
Date: 7/18/1997Call Number: IH 008Format: Cass A & BCollection: The International Hotel struggle and the Filipino community
Recording of a symposium of the following speakers Etta Chung, Estella Habal, and Harvey Dong (40 min of speakers; 50 min of open discussion). Speakers delve into the basic struggle formed from the I-Hotel: private property over human rights. The struggle was to prove that dignity and decency takes higher precedence. The Vietnam War, Anti-colonial struggle, and the strong movement to search for one's identity were touched upon as influences for the large community support. The open discussion has several comments from the audience about the I-Hotel's legacy, as a true story that has changed reality, merged generations to fight for one cause, and the need to push this information into schools for the youth to know of the events in history from their own communities.
